A virtual tour is a sequence of panoramic images that are 'stitched' together to create a 'virtual' experience of any location. Once created, the viewer is able to experience what it is like to be somewhere they are actually not. This virtual experience could be viewed through their desktop computers, their laptops, their tablets and even mobile devices. Some virtual tours also include sound effects such as music or a narration describing products or points of interest. Many offer buttons that can be clicked on by users who want to take a still image of a particular portion of the tour.
Let's Take a Closer Look at Virtual Tours.
Virtual tours should not be confused with video tours, even though both types of tours are similar. Video tours only allow users to see one point of view at any given time. With a virtual tour, users can see an entire panoramic scene or zoom in to get a closer look at a particular area.
Just about every single industry uses virtual tours. The following is a look into which companies use virtual tours the most:
We'll start with the business sector first because acquiring a virtual tour has become quite the trend over the past decade. If a business allows their customers to come inside (a typical brick and mortar business), then a virtual tour makes for the perfect strategy for their marketing efforts. Virtual tours allow the public to "come inside" from the comfort of their home. This is especially useful for businesses who have a lot to offer, but you wouldn't know it by standing outside in front of their building. Thanks to Google Street View, people can now access the virtual tours through Google Maps. Virtual tours can also be embedded onto any website, so you definitely get your money's worth.
Tourists naturally want to get to know a place before spending thousands of dollars booking a vacation there. Virtual tours make this desire a reality by providing travelers with a clear view of notable tourist attractions, local hotels, and restaurants. Some of the many locations one can view online with ease include the Holy Land, tourist spots in Thailand, Washington, D.C. and the Machu Picchu in Peru. Museums and galleries also offer virtual tours with narrations explaining the meaning and importance of various artifacts and exhibitions.
A virtual tour can enable companies with showrooms to exhibit products 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A panoramic view of a showroom is far better than even a set of high-quality photos as it allows potential customers to zoom in on particular products that catch their interest.
Private schools and universities compete with each other for the best students, so it's not surprising that many would use a virtual tour to showcase the campus, classrooms, and other facilities. While wealthy parents could easily afford to visit any given school or university, such individuals are typically very busy people who would naturally prefer to check out schools or universities online instead of having to visit campuses in person. Some of the prestigious educational institutions that offer virtual tours include Harvard, UC of Santa Barbara and Stanford.
Real estate agents have found that virtual tours can help potential buyers get to know a home before paying a visit in person. With a virtual tour, a buyer can see if the house is right for him or her; this saves an agent the time and hassle of offering an in-person tour of the house to someone who has no intention of making a purchase. Construction companies that build custom homes have also made use of virtual tours by offering potential customers a 360° view of various house plans so home buyers can see the pros and cons of any given home plan.
There are several ways in which virtual tours can boost online traffic and sales for just about any company that offers visual products or services.
First of all, virtual tours improve local SEO traffic. This increase is vital to those who search for a local business in a particular area. Typically serious customers already know they want to make a purchase and are looking for the right company. A virtual tour is particularly useful in increasing views from smartphone users as such individuals typically use Google Maps to find nearby locations and then click on spots with a virtual tour to decide which place to visit.
Additionally, virtual tours make it easy for customers to tell others about your business. Virtual tours posted on YouTube may automatically be listed on the first page of search engine results if a company uses the right keywords to tag the video. Furthermore, virtual tours make great social media content that can be easily liked and shared, thus providing a company with free yet invaluable advertising. You can even offer more than one virtual tour if you own a large store, have more than one showroom or have just opened a new branch of your business.
A virtual tour is a powerful tool in the hands of any business that wants to improve website traffic and sales. The one-time investment of having a professional photographer put together a virtual tour is almost sure to pay off in the long run as the tour attracts a steady stream of website visitors and customers. While some industries naturally use virtual tours more than others, the truth is that just about any company can benefit from a virtual tour and all that it has to offer.
No matter how much things change in our world, it seems that not only are virtual tours here to stay, but they will get even better with time. With virtual headsets for example, you are able to submerge yourself into any location and feel like you're actually there. Businesses have already caught onto the marketing genius that is a virtual tour, and more and more sectors are starting to catch on.
How much should you budget to create a virtual tour?
Let’s answer this question and learn more about what’s involved with creating one of these tours.
Some companies offer virtual tours on a subscription model, charging monthly or annual fees. This structure benefits them but may not be ideal for you. In most cases, a one-time fee is the better option.
but prices can increase depending on the complexity and features you choose. The best way to understand your costs is to request a customized quote.
Let’s start by briefly discussing what this technology is. A virtual tour allows you to explore an area remotely. It will be like you are standing in the room.
Using the cursor, you’ll be able to get a 360-degree view of the room, checking it out from every angle. There will be arrows to help you move into the next space. One of the best examples of this technology is Google Street View. These representations are made by combining dozens of panoramic images.
Before we go into more detail about how much they cost, we need to know whether they are effective. So, should you be spending money on designing one at all? The answer is a strong yes. There are plenty of benefits that this technology can unlock.
First, analytics have shown that websites that offer a walkthrough have higher customer engagement. People spend more time on your site. You get a higher clickthrough rate and get more calls from interested people.
Unlike other types of marketing, the user will be able to change the experience to suit them. As an example, imagine that you are running a restaurant. Your customers can replicate the experience of sitting at one of your tables on a romantic evening. This is much more impactful than just reading about it on your website.
Secondly, this technology is still relatively new. As a result, not many small businesses have it. This presents a valuable opportunity. You can be the first in your area. This gives you the chance to make sure that your business stands out from the competition.
Thirdly, you’ll be able to use this technology to improve your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is how search engines will decide where to rank your website. Tags can be embedded into the virtual tour. When done properly, this can be all it takes to get to the number one spot.
Now that we know some of the reasons why it’s worth the investment, we can turn our attention to finding out how much it will cost. Usually, this will depend on a few factors.
Most importantly, the size of your location. The more square feet the business is, the more time it takes to photograph and compile. As a result, you will end up paying more.
You’ll also need to consider who is creating the tour. If you want to save money, you can hire an inexperienced team. But the quality of the experience will suffer. Remember, this is an investment in your businesses’ future. Because of this, you want to find someone who knows what they are doing.
Sometimes, you will find companies that try to get ongoing monthly or yearly fees. This structure works well for them, providing a stable income stream. But it doesn’t work as well for you. Because of this, it’s best to use a company that has a simple one-off fee.
But the price can increase rapidly from there. The best way to compare prices is by getting a quote.
Creating a virtual tour can seem like an expensive proposition. But once you learn everything that goes into making them you’ll understand why they come with a premium price tag.
First, the company will need to bring in a camera. This will be positioned on a tripod, holding it still. Then, they will need to take a series of scans of the area. This lets them create a virtual picture of the site. The camera will then be moved to the next location where the process will begin again.
Once the pictures have been taken, they will be rendered. This is the process of stitching all the photos together to create a realistic 3D walk-through of your property. After this, you can preview the tour. Sometimes, you might want to add special features to spice up the tour a bit. For example, you can embed a YouTube video.
After you are happy with the tour, it’s time for the team to put on the finishing touches. They might want to embed tags to improve the SEO. Next, it’s time to add it to Google Street View and put it into your website. This will allow your customers to enjoy the experience of walking through your business.
The photo shoot itself typically takes just a few hours, depending on the size of the space. After that, the editing and rendering process begins. In most cases, the full virtual tour is ready within a few days.
At 360-virtual.com, we work around your schedule to minimize any disruptions to your business operations.
The process of making your virtual tour can be intensive. The good news is that it won’t take too long before you start to see results. Usually, it will only take a few hours to get the shots. Then, the team will work their magic. Before you know, the shots will be on Google for the whole community to enjoy.
When you choose 360-virtual.com, we will work around your business schedule to take the shots. This will help minimize the disruption that your business will face.
If you are going to create a virtual tour, you want to make sure that you are getting the right team for the job. When you start searching online, you’ll discover there are plenty of people advertising this service. But this can be confusing. After all, you don’t want to end up a lot of money on someone who will give you an inferior product.
But how can you find someone you can trust?
First, you must find someone who is a certified Google Trusted Photographer. This is a program that was started by the tech company, making sure that they are giving their users the best possible experience. Certified photographers are allowed to upload their work directly to Google. This will increase their visibility on the platform. As a result, people who choose to hire these photographers will see an increase in their SEO.
At 360-virtual.com, our photographers are certified Google Trusted Photographers. This ensures that we can offer our clients a superior product.
Another important element to check is the type of equipment that the photographer is using. Today, anyone can come along and snap some shots with a phone.
But these handheld shots will all be at different heights, giving the tour a disjointed feeling. Because of this, you need to make sure that the photographer has a tripod. This will hold the camera steady, giving you clearer pictures. They’ll also need to use a specialized camera.
Third, it’s a good idea to check out their online reputation. You need to find a company that has a long history of positive customer reviews. Ask for examples of their work. This lets you check that they are providing quality products.
Finally, make sure that you own the rights to the tour. This ensures that you can use the tour however you want. While this might seem like a given, some companies seek to retain the copyright. This means that you need to pay them a fee for allowing you to use it on their website. Once you’ve found a company that you like, reach out to them and ask for a quote.
Once you have made your virtual tour, it’s time to put it to use. There are dozens of scenarios where a virtual tour can be a useful tool. Real estate agents have started using virtual tours extensively. They have proven to be a good way for a customer to get acquainted with the house before they decide to buy it.
There are dozens of other uses for this technology. Restaurants and cafes can use it to show off their ambiance. Gyms can use it to showcase their facilities. Office managers can use a virtual tour to attract staff, illustrating what sets their workplace apart. Or it can be a fun way of connecting with your customers.
A high-quality virtual tour is one of the most powerful marketing tools available today. It boosts engagement, improves visibility, and helps your business stand out from the competition.
At 360-virtual.com, we bring expertise, certification, and a proven track record. With dozens of satisfied clients across the country, we’re ready to help you create the perfect virtual experience.
Contact us today to request a quote and take the first step toward a stunning virtual tour.
A virtual tour is quickly becoming one of the most important marketing tools that companies have at their disposal. There are plenty of reasons to use them. They can boost customer engagement. They can improve your SEO. They can help set you apart from your competitors. Plus, they might not be as expensive as you expect.
If you are looking for a reliable organization to create your virtual tour, you should contact 360-virtual.com. Our team are certified Google Trusted Photographers. We have a wealth of experience helping small businesses throughout the country. Plus, we have dozens of positive reviews from satisfied customers. So, give us a call today and find out how we can help you make the perfect virtual tour.
360entrepreneur® is your source for premium, high-resolution virtual tours. Isn’t it time you had a beautiful virtual tour?